• Manchester United has signed a multi-year deal with Marriott International, with multi-platform marketing including access to on-field & player experiences for 120M members of the Marriott BonVoy travel program.

• PepsiCo is acquiring the CytoSport supplements brand from Hormel, which includes the Muscle Milk line.

• MLS Los Angeles Galaxy has signed a deal naming Mescal El Silencio, a specially crafted mezcal label based in Los Angeles, as an official partner for the team and its venue, Dignity Health Sports Park. The alliance, being called the first mescal deal for a pro sports team, includes a Mezcaleria El Silencio bar on the main concourse.

• MLS FC Dallas has signed a pact naming Heineken as the official import beer for the club and Toyota Stadium. The alliance also make Heineken USA a founding partner for the National Soccer Hall of Fame, which recently opened in Toyota Stadium.

• Lisa Borders, who in October resigned from her position as president for the WNBA to become president and CEO for Time’s Up, has now resigned from that position, citing family situations.

July 8, 2009:MasterCard Worldwide said that it's annual All-Star Game "Hit It Here" promotion, which pays rewards if a home run ball strikes a designated sign, this year is making Stand Up For Cancer the recipient of any successful attempts during the game itself or during the State Farm Home Run Derby the previous day. Stand Up To Cancer, a program of the Entertainment Industry Foundation \established by a group of media, entertainment and philanthropic leaders whose lives have been affected by cancer in significant ways, has raised more than $100 million over the past year, due in part to an hour-long program that aired simultaneously last Sept, 5 on ABC, CBS and NBC. In previous years, the "Hit It Here" promotion was designed to award a lucky fan in attendance at the events. The promotion is part of Major League Baseball's commitment to dedicating 2009 All-Star Summer to raising funds and awareness for charitable initiatives and celebrating the importance of community service.

MasterCard and MLB said that the first home run to directly strike one of the MasterCard "Hit It Here" signs in Busch Stadium during the 2009 State Farm Home Run Derby or the 2009 MLB All-Star Game would result in MasterCard donating $1 million to Stand Up To Cancer. If a sign is hit during both events, MasterCard would donate a total of $2 million. The three signs will be placed, respectively, vertically on the left field light post; horizontally in left center field; and horizontally placed in right field along the facade of the upper deck. The 2009 State Farm Home Run Derby, part of Gatorade All-Star Workout Day, will be broadcast live on ESPN on July 13. The 80th MLB All-Star Game will be shown on Fox on July 14.

"The importance of charitable initiatives and community service is more significant than ever, and we're proud to say our business partners are joining us in our efforts to make MLB All-Star Summer all about giving back," John Brody, svp-corporate sales & marketing for MLB, said in a statement. "MasterCard deserves a great deal of credit for aligning this in-stadium promotion with the MLB 'Going Beyond' message to benefit such a worthy cause as Stand Up To Cancer."

The 2009 Major League Baseball All-Star Charity Concert presented by Pepsi on July 11 in St. Louis starring Sheryl Crow (with Elvis Costello), which will be free to fans, will feature a $1 million donation by MLB to Stand Up To Cancer. Fans will also be able to make donations to Stand Up To Cancer after the concert.